Conduit-threading machine.



H. W. BODDY.

GONDUIT THRBADING MAOHINE. APPLIoATloN Hmm 930.49, 19o?.

Patented Apr. 6, 1909.

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HERBERT W. BODDY, OF WOODBURY, NEW JERSEY.

CONDUITTIRE ADING MACHINE Application led December 9, 1907` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April G, 1909.l

Serial No. 405,665.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT W. BODDY, a citizen oi the United States, and resident oi' the city ci' l/Voodbury, county oil Gloucester, and State olI New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Conduit-Threading Machines, ol which the vl'ollowing is a specication.

My invention has reference to conduit threading machines, and consists ol certain improvements which are l'ully set forth in the l'ollowing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which i'orm a part thereof.

The object oi my invention is to provide means i'or threading a rope or cable through an underground conduit and by which a strong cable may be pulled through and be the means subsequently ol' drawing into the conduit the heavy electric cable.

More particularly, my object is to provide a device which may by its internal construction propel itseli' through a long section ol' conduit-from man-hole to man-hole, usually separated by the length of a block-- by manipulation oi hand operated cables and by the immediate means ol' dragging through the preliminary rope.

My invention consists of two frames having a sliding connection with each other and each provided with means for gripping or taking hold oi' the interior wall of the conduit, combined with two hand operated cables respectively having one oi their ends connected with one of the frames and guided about guides upon the other oi the lrames whereby the alternate pulling upon the two hand operated cables will alternately pull forward one or the other ol' the two frames.

My invention also comprehends details of construction which, together with the ieatures above specied, will be better understood by reference to the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation oi my improved cable threading device, Fig. 2 is a cross section of the conduit with the threading device in position therein; Fig. 3 is a plan view oll the threading device; and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the gripping device.

B is the conduit and has one or more conduit apertures B usually square in cross section. The conduit is made up of sections, usually about four feet long and butted end to end as indicated at At these places, the interior wall is slightly flaring to the juncture so that at said juncture the cross section oi" the aperture is somewhat larger. T he threading device C is required to propel itsell' through the conduit apertures and in doing so operates upon diagonally opposite corners as shown in Fig. 2.

The threading device C is fully shown in Figs. l and 3, and to which I will now reier. A A are two parts or shoes which are connected into a frame by a rod or bar R which may be jointed at r if so desired to enable it to be taken through the man-holes and erected in the conduit. At least one oi the parts A A is provided with a hinged gripper D hinged at d and having its free end provided with a gripping point or edge E and guide G. Spring is employed to normally move the gripper mto grip ping position.

Sliding upon the bar It intermediate of the parts A A is a second trame II, which is similarly provided with a pivoted gripper D hinged at d and -furnished with gripping point E and guide G. A spring E holds the gripper D normally in gripping position.

I and L are the operating cables and are alternately pulled by the hands of an operator standing in the man-hole at the beginning or entrance oi the conduit. The cable I eX- tends around a guide pulley J on the frame II and backward to point K where it is secured to the rear part A oi' the other frame. rlfhe cable L extends around the pulley M on the forward part A o'i the last-mentioned frame and backward to point N where it is secured to the first-mentioned 'frame H. O is an equalizing cable which is guided about a pulley P on the rear part A and has its ends connected respectively with the two cables I and L.

The operation will now be understood, and is as follows: The device is inserted in the conduit aperture, with the result that the gripper-s D D are thrown backward against the action oi' the springs E E respectively, so as to enable the gripping points E F to take hold of the interior oi the conduit aperture. Ii, now, the cables L and I are pulled alternately, the frame H will first be advanced and then the frame A R A, and so on alternately. 4 'frames to which they are pivoted 'from working backward through the conduit aperture, and consequently the said 'frames alternately act as abutments toward which the other frame is pulled by its respective cable. When cable I is pulled the cable L is paid out and vice versa, and to prevent excessive The grippers D D prevent the strain being put upon the pulleys J M and working parts of the frames, the equalizing cable O is provided. When cable I is pulled, the equalizing cable O pulls the cable Iifor ward through and into the conduit opening and vice versa.

Should oneof the grippers D or D come to rest where two sections of the conduit are lioined as at l), they are prevented taking hold because of the action of the guides G or G as the case may be, and upon pulling upon the other cable, said gripper' is drawn back so as tov just clear the junction place l) before talrin' held. This is important as careinust be exercised that the interior surface of the conduit must not be cracked or mutilated as would likely occur should the grippers be permitted to grip Ain the joint l).

The forward part of the shoe A is preferably rounded to enable it to travel forward easily. The forward under edges ofthe other parts A and I'I are likewise rounded, for similar reasons. Y

Ihile I have. shown my invention in the preferred form for commercial use, I do not confine myselll to the details these may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention. Y Y

Having new described my' invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A. conduit having a longitudinal passage formed with angular corners, combined with a threading machineconsisting of a frame having a smooth guiding surface adapted to ht one of the angular corners of theconduit passage and provided with an oppositely directed hinged gripping jaw arranged to grin the opposite angular corner ofthe conduit passage, a second frame guided upon the first mentioned frame and similarly provided with a hinged gripping jaw also arranged to grip the angular corner gripped by the gripping jaw of the first mentioned frame, and hand operated cables attached to said frames for moving either frame relatively to the other, the threading device as a whole being supported by the conduit passage upon top and bottomcnly.

ZA conduit having a longitudinal passage formed with angular corners, combined with a threading machine consisting ofv a frame having a smooth guiding surface adapted to lit one of the angular corners of the conduit passage and provided witlian oppositely directed spring actuated hinged gripping jaw arranged to grip the opposite angular corner of the conduit passage and having a guardto limit the extent of its penetrating action, a second frame guided upon the iirst mentioned frame and similarly provided with a spring actuated. hinged gripping jawalso arranged to grip the angular corner gripped by the gri-ping jawiof the lirst mentioned frame and ikewise provided with a guard to limit the extent of its penetrating action, and hand operated cables at,

taclied to said frames for moving either frame relatively to the other, the threading device as a wholev being sup orte/d by Vthe conduit passage upon top and ottoin only.

3. In a conduit threading machine, the combination of two frames having a sliding connection one with the other and each hav- .ing a clamping jaw, with hand-operative devices consisting of two ,cables each respectively connected with one of the frames and looped about a connection with the otherof ing a clamping jaw, with hand-operative. de-

vices consisting of two cables each respectively connected with one ofthe frames and looped about a connection with the vother of the frames formoving either frame relatively to the other, and an equalizing cable having its ends connected to the two hand-operated cables and looped about a part secured to one of the frames.

5. In a conduit threading machine, the

combinationof a frame having a longitudinal guide and a pivoted gripping jaw provided with `a rear guard toy limit the possible bite of the gripping jaw, with a second frame guided upon the guide` andhaving a pivoted gri )ping jaw also provided with a rear guard, ant hand operated means for alternately advancing one frame onthe other.

, In a cable threading machine, the combination of a frame having asmooth guide surface and a laterally projecting spring ac tuated gripping jaw, directed away from said smooth guide surface,y with a second frame having a sliding connection upon the iirst mentioned frame and alsohaving a laterally oro'ectine serine' actuated ri ein 'aw eX- l l c e i ia. ii. HUNTER, R. M. KELLY. 

